567 consecutive days of Duolingo. Twenty years in Japan. And my Japanese is still embarrassingly basic. Not because I’m lazy—it’s more complicated than that. Here’s the honest accounting.
I’m 56, living paycheck to paycheck, and sometimes I feel like a fake talking to salespeople in computer stores. This is my honest look at success when you haven’t “made it” financially.
A student’s handshake after sharing his grief. A 562-day Duolingo streak. A teammate rescued in a game. Small wins aren’t settling for less—they’re evidence we’re still fully in the game of life.
No one wakes up thrilled to spot new gray hair, but here’s the deal: aging’s got some great parts. In my late 50s, I’m discovering freedoms my younger self never imagined—like not caring what others think while still feeling young inside. What unexpected gifts has aging brought you?
Gaming at 56? Apex Legends has become a counterbalance after days of farming and teaching. The game helps me rest physically even if my mind stays wired. My senses aren’t what they were, but my name warns teammates what to expect. How do you decompress?
When one thing demands your attention even when you should focus elsewhere. Between what pays the bills and what feeds your soul—how do you manage the pull toward what won’t let go?
After my wife of twenty years left for America, I found myself grabbing the wrong jeans from my closet—a simple error that made me question everything. When external stability masks internal turbulence, how do you recognize mental health? What anchors you these days?
The last clear sign: my mum was feeding the dog from the dinner table—something she’d never done. Now, she sits silently in a care home, clutching a toy. How do we navigate the slow, painful goodbye when dementia turns a loved one into a stranger?
Ever catch yourself being grateful for music? I’ve been diving back into my collection lately—thankful for how it flips a switch when life gets overwhelming or thoughts spiral. What’s your go-to music genre when nothing else seems to do it?
Have you ever caught yourself aiming for something that doesn’t truly resonate? I once watched myself pass interviews for a job I didn’t really want, to get a more prestigious position I really didn’t need. Why do we trap ourselves in these patterns?